Two songs released late in the year have earned nominations in the 27th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards following the introduction of a new policy designed to give December releases a fair chance in the awards process.
The organisers of the awards announced the introduction of a “Swing Period” policy, which allows songs released in December to be considered in the following year’s nomination cycle if they meet specific eligibility requirements.
According to the TGMA Board, the policy was introduced to address long-standing concerns that songs released at the end of the year often struggle to build enough momentum to compete with tracks that have had months of exposure.
Under the new framework, two songs released in December were included among nominees for the 27th awards: “Messiah” by Sarkodie featuring Kweku Flick and “Excellent” by Kojo Blakk featuring Kelvyn Boy.
The board explained that to qualify for consideration under the swing period, a song must have been released in December of the eligibility year, demonstrated measurable impact during the review period, and must not have received a nomination in the previous awards cycle.
Officials noted that the policy follows three years of consultations with music industry stakeholders and reflects the changing dynamics of music promotion and consumption, particularly with the rise of digital platforms.
According to the board, the adjustment is part of broader efforts to ensure the awards system remains responsive to industry trends while maintaining fairness in the recognition of outstanding music.
The organisers also indicated that the awards scheme will continue reviewing and refining its processes to ensure it maintains credibility while celebrating influential contributions across Ghana’s music industry.
